moongal

I got an offer today as well. I was so excited because I’ve never been offered an upgrade. I was so excited because the way the email was worded made it seem like I “qualified” for something special! It was an offer to upgrade to an ocean suite from the balcony I have booked in Jan. But when I went in and checked pricing the “offer” was only $9 less than if I just went and booked the ocean suite right now. Doesn’t seem like much of a deal! If I had wanted to pay for a suite I would have picked that from the beginning. This $9 off is almost laughable.

[emoji27]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We always carry on all our luggage. Believe me we are loaded. My rolling suitcase is 28” high (from wheels to top of bag as it stands x 16” thick x 20” wide. I also bring a large duffel bag with all of our snorkel gear for whole family and yet another smaller bag with all the medications, important stuff. It all goes thru the scanner just fine in Galveston where the Valor is. We were on Valor last year and had no issues at all with luggage going thru scanner.

I think the term “carry on” means something entirely different when cruising. It generally means luggage not going aboard thru the porters and as long as it fits thru the scanners it’s ok. When flying I think “carry on” generally refers to a smaller type luggage that must fit in overhead or under seat so much more restrictive. Pretty much “carry on” when cruising Carnival means whatever you can humanly carry on yourself. At least that has been my experience.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

My husband and I (aged 50’s) love Nachi because it is quiet and peaceful. Not a lot to do there, no inflatables, nothing. but relax. I think they do offer a snorkel trip and a banana boat ride. The food was good and the water was ok but this year we are bringing teens so after doing extensive research we chose Mr. Sanchos all inclusive since it seemed more geared to a younger crowd.

If it’s quiet you are looking for then Nachi for sure but if you are bringing teens probably Mr. Sanchos.

I haven’t ever been but we are going in a couple of weeks so I’ll let you know how Mr Sanchos goes for teens.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We couldn’t get iMessage to work for us on the last 2 of our cruises. We had the social media plan for everyone and had the airplane mode turned on and WiFi on. Only thing we could use that worked was facebook messenger. None of us actually had a Facebook acct but we all just downloaded the Facebook messenger app and that worked great for texting each other on the ship and those back at home.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Do the sign and sail cards still come with the hole punched in them? (To hang from a lanyard?)

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does anyone know if the new steakhouse menu is now being used on the Valor or are they still using the old menu with the cheesecake?

Also does anyone who has been on a ship that has the new menu know if each person gets their own dessert if someone at the table orders that “art at the table” thing or must everyone at the table have that (is it for the entire table?)

Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I love FTTF, and have purchased it for every cruise. I buy it for the sole purpose of having my room ready when I board since we always carry on all of our luggage. The rest of the perks are just “meh” to me but I will certainly continue to buy it until I either reach platinum or it rises significantly more than it is now.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

What didn’t you like about Mr. Sanchos in Coz? I’m just curious because I made a reservation for us for our upcoming cruise. I kept reading glowing reports about the place so I am curious as to what it was that you did not like. I went to Nachi last year and it was just “ok” nothing really to write home about. So I was looking for a new place to try.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

They let my daughter in club 02 and her birthday wasn’t till the last day of our cruise (she turned 15 the last sea day) I kind begged a little though for them to let her in so she could go in with her brother. I felt better knowing she was with her older brother.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Every cruise I have ever been on, I have wondered to myself “who buys this garbage”? Who goes on a cruise to buy artwork??? Seems odd to me but to each his own I suppose. I find all the shopping venues on board quite silly. With the exception of the cherry on top and the tee shirt/trinket/souvenir type shop, all the rest like perfumes, metal by the inch, and jewelry just seem a waste of space to me. On my first cruise I did buy my then 14 yr old daughter a little charm bracelet since she fell prey to the circus salesmen hawking them as if they were hand made by Jesus himself, but by the time we got home the thing was already turning her skin green and Charms falling off and discoloring like you would expect a dime store trinket to do.

I knew when I bought it that it was trash but it made my daughter happy for a brief moment, but honestly I see people lining up for the “sales” like they were giving away a million dollars or something.....don’t understand.

Anyway I guess there are enough people buying artwork and all the other stuff as well or Carnival would quit selling it.

I do wish they would change it up a bit. I wouldn’t mind shopping if they had more variety of things.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Omg that is just not right in my opinion. Unless I had specifically spilled something on the carpet and it needed immediate cleaning, I would be furious to have my room taken over for routine cleaning maintenance while I am paying for it!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks everyone! This is good news for the chocolate milk drinker!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does anyone know if they put chocolate milk out in the mornings at the lido breakfast buffet? We are taking one of my teens friends along and this kid lives on chocolate milk. Literally. I was thinking if they offered it in the mornings he could grab several and put in the room fridge for the rest of the day.

My kids don’t drink it so I never paid any attention.

Thanks!

Also I have heard that in the summer months it can take longer because more people are traveling and making last minute plans. I did my expedited passport renewal back in April, so you might also take into consideration the time of year it is when you are sending yours off.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Fog is more of an issue for Galveston during the fall, winter and early spring months. Fog is very rare during summer.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I’m really no one to be giving advice, since I’ve never been there but my parents say there are terrible sand fleas (or maybe it was sand flies?) in Belize.... they go there often for diving and said they were eaten alive. Also I think the tendering can be a little rough ( based solely on what I have read) so maybe stay on the ship for your Belize port of call?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Statistically the chances are lower the earlier in the season it is (I’m assuming you are inquiring regarding Hurricanes) but with that being said it’s just the luck of the draw.

Just get insurance, and make sure it covers named storms and if so you need to make sure you cancel in the appropriate time frame allowed by the insurance for named storms. Read the fine print. I believe the insurance I just purchased said it allowed for named storms and a NHC or other authority issuing a warning for the port within 48 hrs or something along those lines. I’d have to go dig up all the paperwork I printed out from my policy but I do remember it being very specific.

I think you can also get cancel for any reason insurance (this is what I purchased) but even with that you have to cancel before you reach the 48 hrs mark.

Anyway shop around and read all the fine print for insurance to cover your needs and hope for the best!

Chances are low that early in June. I’ve lived here (near Galveston) my entire life and it is very rare to have something come along that early but not impossible as you can see by the recent subtropical Alberto that just occurred.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I had to renew mine and paid for expedited and I got it in less than 10 days. I was quite impressed.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Unless I am not understanding it correctly it says the enhanced ID would be acceptable for US CITIZENS. If he was born in PR then he would not be considered a us citizen in which case he would need the passport.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Op not sure if PR are considered US citizens or not. Depends on what google article you read! Anyway I would get the passport just to be safe. You can get expedited service.

Unless I am not understanding it correctly it says the enhanced ID would be acceptable for US CITIZENS. If he was born in PR then he would not be considered a us citizen in which case he would need the passport.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We are taking our children 1, 4, and 10 on a seven day. Ive peovably read every article on pintrest for tips when traveling with baby's and toddlers there is. I think one of the most clever things Ive read was to bring a small kiddy pool. My girls are all use to taking showers, but suggested to use as a makeshift bathtub. Also because the baby isnt toilet trained she wont be able to splash around with my other two. A kiddie pool however will still offer her a place to splash, and cool off.

I’m not sure but I think I remember reading that kiddie pools are not allowed. You might want to check on that before you go to the trouble to lug one along.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Reading some of the topics on here has left me with some questions.

Has anyone ever had anything stolen from their cabin safe? I always stored my stuff- cash, phones, passports , in there and never gave it a second thought. But now I am worrying that perhaps they are not really as “safe” as I thought. I know a carnival employee can open them as I once lost the card I was using to open the safe (it was the kind you had to use a magnetic strip card to open) and the carnival employee came in and opened it right up for me and reset it.

Is there a lot of safe theft going on?

As for tipping, I always leave the automatic gratuities in place as well as tipping extra those that deserve extra, but one thing has always bothered me. How do we know the cruise line even gives all this gratuity money to the workers? For all we know they don’t and it just goes into the corporate bigwigs coffers.

This is why I always tip extra. I don’t trust the company to actually distribute all this money they are collecting as gratuities. Or maybe they distribute some, but skim a little off the top to line their own pockets. Who knows? Or has someone actually looked into this and had it verified that every penny collected as a gratuity actually goes out to a crew member.

I also read that if you remove the auto gratuities and just tip cash directly to a person, they are required to turn that cash over for redistribution amongst all gratuity subsidized employees. Do they actually do that? How would anyone know? If I gave my room steward $40 how would anyone know? I would expect that they could just say they did not receive anything.

Anyway, I agree with others and wish tipping was just included as fare. I always give extra but am always left wondering did I leave enough? Did I leave too little? Did I leave someone out? One time I tipped my room steward at the beginning of the cruise because I had an extra request (wanted ice) and I gave him $40 at the beginning....never saw him again. He was the worst steward I ever had and I wished I hadn’t given him the extra $40 up front.

I just want to know what happened. I don’t drink, so I’m not worried about drunkenly doing something to fall overboard, but yet sometimes when looking out over the railing I get a mildly fearful feeling of somehow falling overboard. I don’t even see how someone could be pushed over. It seems like they would have to be somehow hoisted up and then over. Anyway so sad and tragic.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Ok thanks for that info, but here’s another question. How will they know I have FTTF, to get to my room? They always just looked at the sticker on my card. I sailed on Valor last June must have just missed the change over.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does anyone know how it is set up currently on the Valor? Do we get it at check in or in our mailbox? If you have FTTF, will it be ready in your mailbox (if that is the current method) when you get to your room before the normal 1:30 time?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums